When I lived in PA there was no such thing as buying locally. Things were purchased from national chain stores who sold either regional or national brands. No local brands, few small stores, and certainly no stores full of handmade things. Portland has been a wonderful eye opener. We live near a dairy factory, there are farmers markets everywhere, and they have entire blocks downtown donated to selling handmade goods. So I searched around on the best site to find handmade items, Etsy.com, and brought back some of my favorite goodies.
Rockvelopes
These stunning envelopes are made of recycled rock band flyers. They are 3.5 x 5 inches, large enough to fit a standard card. You get a packet of 10 for $10. Very cute for handing out birthday cards or using for other special occasions. Rockvelopes can be purchased here
Geisha Cameo
I fell in love with this necklace as soon as I saw it. The glass intaglio in the middle was fused by hand to the sterling silver backing and it hangs from a circa 1950's chain. The craftsmanship is amazing. The piece is absolutely gorgeous and would be wonderful for a night out or with a simple shirt. You can find it here and be sure to check out the artist's other handmade jewelry.
Bubblegum Dress
This is definitely cuter than a store bought dress. Portland seems to have this underground movement of people who can make their own clothes. And they make them so fabulously. I believe this piece is an update of a vintage party dress and decked out in lace and silk. It's one of those dresses that makes you feel like you are a belle at a grand ball. You can purchase it and the dressmakers other pretties here
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cheesecake
Portland is known to be the home of many "foodies", the treasured nickname for food fanatics. The streets downtown are laden with restaurants, coffee shops, food carts, and bakeries. I stumbled upon this baker and couldn't help but drool over her combination of a cheesecake and a chocolate chip cookie. It's delectable! She also makes yummy little tea cookies and make-at-home cookie mixes. You can find her online store here
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